Mumbai: Upcoming artists from across the State showcased their work on a 250-metre stretch in Kala Ghoda on Sunday, as the BMC strove to find a new concept after last October’s open art gallery idea ifailed to elicit expected response. This time, it has teamed up with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).
The revived Talent Street saw 21 tables registered along Kaikhushru Dubash Marg, where the event will be held every week. The area will be cordoned off for vehicles from Saturday afternoon to Sunday night till May 2018. Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, one of the driving forces behind the concept, said, “I’m glad MTDC has tied up with BMC for this. The intention is to promote aspiring artists, and create a Sunday street for Mumbaikars. Across the world, there is a certain street, even a pedestrian one, where you can shop, see the local culture or art. This is one of those. Kala Ghoda is the hub of art and that’s why we have gone ahead with this.”
Each stall showcased techniques, including spray painting, caricature, sculpture, pottery, Warli art, jewellery and puppet-making. Chief Secretary Sumeet Mullick said, “The aim is to increase public participation and promote art and culture. We are planning to expand this initiative till Regal Cinema. The number of stalls would eventually increase, and it would be better if art overtook open spaces on the pedestrian plaza, giving a break from honking vehicles.”
Much-needed platform
Rupali Madan, who runs Era Art Studio in Navi Mumbai and creates hand-crafted products including handbags, necklaces, skirts and jackets, said as artistes, they don’t create to sell. “We don’t know much about selling our work. This initiative has provided us with a good marketing platform, and has helped us get our work out there.” She said she is portraying ancient history and art through fashion.
Artistes also demonstrated live pottery and painting. Sunil Gogia, 69, who claims to be the country’s first spray-paint artist, is self-taught. “I’ve been practising this art form since I was 60. People have usually seen a painting in its complete form, but they’ve never really witnessed a painting being made and the hard work that goes into it. I’m glad we have a platform to show techniques used by us.”
For Hindi cinema lovers, there is a Bollywood Dream Tour on what goes into making a movie or a TV series, such as dubbing and the role played by a fully-equipped playback studio. Santosh Mijgar, director, Star Craft Manoranjan Pvt. Ltd, said, “Aspiring actors who don’t get a chance to showcase their skills, we have organised auditions, where they will dress up as their favourite actors and enact a scene of their choice. They will then be shot and their video will be uploaded in an application called the Talent Street Audition which will be launched next Sunday.”
